Tsukaishi ⑫ – Tsukaishi.
Hayyarn’s business was concluded, but I decided to bring her along under the condition that she remained quiet. I was summoned to a small conference room. Despite its size, it was still elegantly and impressively constructed.
Seated at the head of the room was a tall man resembling a black panther, sporting a white beard like Santa Claus. He was clad in impressive, though not overly flashy, robes.
This was the Grand Guild Master of the Grand Guild… Alhazardo Abramelin.
He really is a black panther. Why a black panther, I wonder. He’s a beastman, right?
They say he’s lived for over 600 years; it’s a mystery.
And then there was the Witch. Shiro-san. Chive-san. Munieca-san. They were here too.
No one else. Hmm?
“Let me formally introduce myself. Wof.”
“Y-Yes. It’s nice to meet you.”
Alhazardo glanced at the rabbit perched on my shoulder before continuing.
Amazing. He didn’t ask anything. Completely unfazed. This is the Grand Guild Master!
“Now then, excluding Narcessis, who declined, I have gathered those who selected you. I have also withdrawn myself, leaving only these four.”
“Y-Yes.”
“Honestly, this is unprecedented. Nothing like this has ever happened before.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, no, there’s no need for you to apologize. If anything, you should be proud.”
“Oh… okay…”
I don’t have anything to be proud of… Still, what kind of joke is this?
Well, it’s probably the Witch’s doing. Though I don’t know what she’s planning.
“Let us now explain the matter of the Tsukaeshi. First, have you heard anything about what a Tsukaeshi is?”
Alhazardo asked gently.
“Just that it’s like being a servant who takes care of a Tier I Seeker, and that we share a room.”
“That’s right. And that is essentially correct.”
“Eh?”
“The role of a Tsukaeshi was certainly important in the past. This was partly because many aimed to become Tier I Seekers. They would serve a Tier I, learning by being at their side. ‘Attendant to a Tier I Seeker’ is perhaps the easiest way to understand it. However, in the present day, Tsukaeshi is an honorary position. Things like the Tsukaeshi Wish Slate are merely for show, an effect stemming from the ‘Great O’Browns’ taking on an entertainment aspect. The ‘Titles’ granted from Tier II Seeker onwards are similar. But it’s also true that we enjoy these things. Besides, while Tsukaeshi is an honorary position, it still holds the merit of allowing one to be close to a Tier I Seeker, just like in the old days.”
In my case, the Witch is my master, and somehow, these Tier I Seekers are already around me. So, while it might sound spoiled, I don’t really see the merit. But I didn’t know it was an honorary position.
As if sensing the conversation had paused, the Witch interjected.
“So, so, what’s the meaning of gathering just us Kon, eh?”
“Shiro is also displeased.”
“Don’t tell me~ you expect the four of us to fight it out~?”
“If that is the case, then I, too, shall have to get serious.”
“After various considerations, we judged it impossible to decide on just one person.”
That makes sense. I can tell these four have absolutely no intention of backing down.
So, what are they going to do?
“Hmm, hmm. Then what will happen, eh?”
“Follow me. I shall show you.”
Alhazardo started walking. We followed as instructed.
We arrived at a room in the lodging facilities.
Inside, there were four beds.
We immediately understood. Ah, so that’s how it is.
Alhazardo spoke.
“This is also unprecedented, but we have decided to make the four of you jointly serve as Tsukaeshi for one person.”
“Hoh hoh. A compromise, eh?”
“Initially, we considered having you rotate daily, but we were told that wouldn’t be very sound.”
“True.”
“I can see how that wouldn’t be~ too good.”
“I would not have minded.”
“It was also questioned whether having the other three handle Guild staff duties during the rotation was appropriate. Isn’t assigning personnel to an honorary position wasteful?”
That just sounds like double the work somehow.
“Hmm, hmm. So since it’s an honorary position, you decided to lump us all into one, eh?”
“Exactly. It saves both manpower and trouble.”
“Rational.”
“It is certainly a good idea.”
“Isn’t it~ pretty much the same as at the Witch’s House~ maybe?”
“We were living together, after all.”
“That was just yesterday.”
“We weren’t this close, though.”
They said, sitting down on the beds.
“That is all. Feel free to interact as you please from here on.”
With that, Alhazardo turned to leave the room.
Just then, the rabbit, who had been quiet until now, spoke up.
“My good sir. May I ask one thing?”
“What is it, Lord Rabbit?”
“It is Hayyarn. That form of yours. Is it the work of a Talisman?”
The work of a Talisman? Alhazardo gave a wry smile.
“Indeed. The price of my youth.”
“Do you still possess the Egg?”
“Nay. What I drank was from a bottle.”
“I see.”
Egg? Bottle? Could it be…
“Is that all you wished to ask?”
“Ah, my apologies.”
“Not at all. Is your form also the work of a Talisman?”
“No. This is a replacement.”
“I am relieved. I was a little worried if I would eventually end up like that too.”
“Nothing further will happen. You will not completely turn into a black panther.”
“I am very glad to know that. My thanks, Lord Alchemist.”
Hayyarn chuckled softly.
“Just to be sure, let me ask. The whereabouts of the Egg?”
“Let’s just say I am still searching for it.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. I am considering its danger.”
“Then it is fine.”
Hayyarn seemed satisfied.
The Egg… that must be it. The Three Eggs.
The ‘Elixir Sacred Egg’ and the other two.
I have the Elixir. It’s still deep inside my pouch.
A Talisman, huh. What kind of Egg is it?
“Well then, Wof.”
“Yes.”
“I have high expectations for you going forward, as a Seeker and as a challenger.”
“Y-Yes. I’ll do my best.”
What’s a challenger?
Alhazardo left.
What was that about? Is my reputation spreading in ways I’m unaware of?
Well, that’s… whatever. For now, anyway.
I turned to the Witch.
“Witch. What is the meaning of this?”
“What, what? What do you mean? It’s just as old man Abramelin said, eh?”
“Not that. I’m talking about Shiro-san.”
“Hmm~ what about her~?”
“Is something wrong with Shiro?”
“Hmm, hmm. What could you mean, eh?”
Huh? This doesn’t feel like she’s feigning ignorance. It wasn’t the Witch’s doing?
“What do you mean…”
I looked at her.
The completely white girl, staring back blankly.
“You. You’re not Shiro-san, are you? Who are you?”
Yes, she isn’t Shiro-san.
I can say it with certainty. She is not Shiro-san.
Who is she?
“Wh-What… Not Shiro?”
“Oh my, oh my, I see, eh?”
“Wof-kun. What are you saying? That’s not a funny joke.”
The thing wearing Shiro-san’s form gave a strained smile.
Even Hayyarn sounded troubled.
“Wof. Are you certain?”
“There’s no mistake. She’s not Shiro-san.”
“What are you talking about? And what is this supposed to be? Chive.”
Chive-san placed her beautiful, jade-green curved sword against the fake Shiro’s neck.
“What do you mean~? Can’t you tell by looking~?”
“You believe what Wof-kun is saying?”
“Fufu, fufu, you’ve given yourself away, eh? Shiro wouldn’t say something like that. Besides, I believe him, eh. I have no choice but to believe him, eh. Because Wof (boy) would never, ever say something like that about someone, eh. If he did say it, then there’s no doubt they’re an imposter, eh. ‘Thousand Faces’.”
As the Witch spoke, the one disguised as Shiro sighed.
Her form twisted and warped, wavered, and then vanished.
“Drat. Drat. I never thought I’d be found out this quickly, gesu.”
Gesu? Seriously, gesu? They spoke in a unique, androgynous, husky voice.
Standing there was a small figure clad in grimy robes, hood pulled low.
They wore the hood deep over their eyes and had a strange mask with a long bird’s beak.
According to my past life’s memories, it resembled a plague doctor’s mask.
“Pleased to meet you, Wof-sama, the one who brings down ‘The Impregnable’. This humble one is embarrassingly known as ‘Thousand Faces’, gesu. I occupy one of the lowest seats among the Tier I Seekers, gesu.”
“Hey, I don’t bring it down!”
Where did the ‘challenger’ part go?